Chapter 428: God-King
In stark contrast to the LPL live stream, the LCK live stream, which was initially annoyed when Chairman Jiang meticulously introduced WBG, was filled with praise after hearing his later remarks.
Instead, fans of other LCK teams became displeased.
It is well-known that LCK fans are LCK fans, and T1 fans are T1 fans; these are two completely different groups.
"Then, could you predict the score?" Xiran didn't ask too many questions, posing her final one.
"Three to zero, T1 wins."
Not only were the LPL viewers stunned, but the LCK viewers were also dumbfounded.
You just went on and on about WBG, and then you predicted a three-to-zero score?
Is that right, buddy?
Xiran was also taken aback, but her excellent professionalism quickly brought her back, and she thanked Chairman Jiang before leaving.
"Chairman Jiang, do you really think it will be three to zero?" The LCK host asked in surprise after Xiran left.
"I already saw it when T1 played JDG; their form has improved. Everyone, just wait and see," Chairman Jiang said with a mysterious smile.
The LCK host saw this and stopped asking questions, as the players began to appear on stage.
More than an hour later...
"Let's congratulate T1, the champions of the S13 League of Legends World Championship!"
The LPL audience at the venue was silent, the LCK audience was speechless, and T1 fans celebrated wildly.
After their defeat in last year's finals, T1 returned and decisively claimed the championship with a clean three-to-zero victory.
After seven years, Faker once again stood at the top of the world.
And Zeus, by stepping on TheShy, achieved the position of God-King, completing his self-redemption after being counter-FMVPed last year.
"The winner of the FMVP of this League of Legends World Championship is..."
"Zeus!"
Zeus received the FMVP trophy from Tryndamere, and when he saw the microphone handed over by Faker, his eyes instantly reddened.
"Chairman Jiang, I did it!" With that, Zeus proudly raised the FMVP trophy in his hand.
At this moment, the director also cut the camera to Chairman Jiang, and a staff member quickly approached him, handing over a microphone.
"After tonight, I think a prefix can be added to the ID 'Zeus'."
"God-King Zeus!"
The venue immediately erupted with deafening cheers from T1 fans.
This moment of glory belonged to all members of T1.
At the post-match celebration, T1's account posted photos from the party.
Zeus, who won the FMVP, stood in the center, flanked by the other four team members. Behind the five, Chairman Jiang, Li Lishi, who is now in charge of T1's entire esports operations, and the current CEO of T1's LoL division, along with the fan club leader, stood in a line.
Caption: Four years of waiting, tonight it bloomed into the most brilliant fireworks.
This post was widely reposted by numerous marketing accounts, and the story of Chairman Jiang and Zeus was brought up again. This tale of a discerning patron and a talented individual in the esports circle had already spread throughout the esports world, and even the K-pop scene was aware of a player named Zeus.
The video of T1's locker room after their defeat in last year's finals went viral again, and Chairman Jiang's words to the T1 members at that time were revisited.
#ZOFGKisthebestT1combo# also once again topped the trending topics.
...
In late November, Bilibili invited Chairman Jiang to record for the 2023 New Year's Eve Gala, but Chairman Jiang declined.
In early December, MBC announced the artist lineup for their New Year's Eve Gala. The lineup was extensive, much larger than the SBS and KBS year-end ceremonies. A closer look would reveal that the SBS and KBS ceremonies were missing a significant portion of DM Entertainment artists.
However, MBC had full attendance; not a single artist from DM Entertainment was missing, all were present. This distinction became clear: MBC not only occupied the prime time slot on New Year's Eve but also secured the full attendance of the DM Entertainment family. This year's most anticipated television ceremony was now undisputed.
DM Entertainment artists had heavy responsibilities; not only did they have to participate in various grand ceremonies, but the New Year's Eve Gala was also a strict order from within the company.
They had to show their best side.
As a result, even if artists had no schedule, they no longer entertained themselves. Instead, whenever they had time, they would spend it in the practice room, reviewing past songs and the collaborative stages they were about to perform, over and over again.
aespa practice room.
"Hae Won, why are you back so soon?" Hwang Yeji, sitting on the floor, asked in surprise when she saw Wu Haiyuan approach.
"Chairman Jiang isn't in his office." Wu Haiyuan walked over and plopped down next to Hwang Yeji.
"Chairman Jiang has been elusive lately; I can't find him either," Bae Joo-hyun said, shrugging.
DM Entertainment had prepared a collaborative stage for the leaders at the MBC New Year's Eve Gala, which was why they were there.
"Have Karina and Youzhen Ni not arrived yet?" Bae Joo-hyun nodded, then asked a staff member from the aespa team.
"Karina has a stomachache; she went to the restroom after arriving at the company and should be here soon. Youzhen Ni will be here in about ten minutes."
"Jeon Soyeon Ouni will also be here in about ten minutes; she's with Director Kim Hye-soo," Kim Chae-won, who had been silent, also spoke up.
"Why isn't Taeyeon Ouni here?" Wu Haiyuan asked.
"I don't know; I didn't see Taeyeon Ouni on the list for this collaborative stage," Hwang Yeji shook her head and said.
Although Kim Tae-yeon is a solo artist, she is also currently the leader of Girls' Generation, so she is considered a group leader.
"Maybe limited groups aren't included?"
"No, that's not it. Taeyeon Ouni has a collaborative stage with Kim Taehyung from BTS," Bae Joo-hyun said.
"BTS? That boy group from Big Hit Entertainment?" Wu Haiyuan's face showed curiosity.
"Yes, them. Their popularity has been quite good recently; they're almost at the first-tier level."
"That's indeed quite good."
However, that's all it was.
Everyone present, except for ITZY, was at least a first-tier group in terms of popularity. Even ITZY, though currently on a downward trend to third-tier, had once stood at the peak.
You can't deny them just because their popularity isn't good now. Back then, besides the unparalleled IZONE, who could beat ITZY?
Which group didn't have to walk on eggshells when they encountered ITZY?
"I wonder what Chairman Jiang has been up to lately; he's been so mysterious," Wu Haiyuan muttered.
Bae Joo-hyun glanced at her. Based on her observations over the past period, she actually had some guesses about what Chairman Jiang was doing, but she couldn't be certain and didn't want to speak rashly. After all, if this guess were true... it would cause considerable panic within the company.
After being forcibly pushed into the Vice President position, Bae Joo-hyun's way of thinking also shifted to a higher level, no longer limiting her problem-solving to her immediate surroundings but elevating it to the level of impact on the entire company.
"Maybe he's preparing some kind of surprise?" Kim Chae-won guessed with some anticipation, "After all, Chairman Jiang has had such preparations before."
Bae Joo-hyun pursed her lips.
As long as it's not a fright.
